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Go 977.102 D33s 1135722
MVI.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02279 8331
GEN
1
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/earlydaytonwithi00stee_0
D. C. COOPER.
EARLY DAYTON, Ohio
WITH IMPORTANT FACTS AND INCIDENTS FROM THE FOUNDING OF THE CITY OF DAYTON, OHIO TO THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 1796-1896
BY ROBERT W. STEELE
AND MARY DAVIES STEELE
ILLUSTRATED
LUX ET
NERI- TAS
DAYTON, OHIO 1. 3. Publishing house W. J. SHUEY, PUBLISHER 1896
977.102 D335
COPYRIGHT, 1895 BY MARY DAVIES STEELE All rights reserved
1
1135722
TO MY FRIENDS Mr. and Mrs. Frank Unnuver, DESIRING TO ASSOCIATE THEIR NAMES WITH MINE IN MY LITERARY WORK, WHICH THEY HAVE PROMOTED IN VARIOUS WAYS, I DEDICATE "EARLY DAYTON."
M. D. S.
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
THE illustrations contained in this volume have been carefully selected, and include a number which have never before been published. Among these are portraits of Benjamin Van Cleve, Colonel George Newcom and his daughter, Mrs. Jane Wilson, a view of Main Street in 1855 from a water-color by John W. Van Cleve, and a copy of the original plan of the city as found in the records of Hamilton County. For these portraits and the view of Main Street the publisher desires to acknowledge his obligation to Mrs. Thomas Dover, Mrs. Josiah Gebhart, and Miss Martha Holt, in whose possession are the valuable originals, and by whose courtesy they are here reproduced. Special thanks are due, also, to Mr. J. H. Patterson for the portrait of his grand- father, Colonel Robert Patterson, to Miss S. S. Schenck, of Washington, D. C., for that of her father, General Robert C. Schenck, to Prof. W. B. Werthner for a photograph of the excava- tion of the old Corduroy Road, and to Dr. J. C. Reeve, Jr., and Mrs. R. E. Dexter for photographs of the old Jefferson Street canal bridge and the Third Street river bridge.
The pictures of the landing of the first settlers, of Newcom's first cabin in 1796, and of Newcom's Tavern in 1799 have been reproduced in accordance with the most reliable information which could be obtained, and the artist, Miss Rebekah Rogers, has succeeded admirably in this difficult work.
sp. iv
PREFACE
PERHAPS there is no impropriety in saying in a preface to a history of Dayton that no one living here who has undertaken literary, philanthropic, or other public work can help feeling that Dayton is a good place to live in, so ready is the response and generous the support and appreciation received. Thus, it seems to the student of our history, it has been from the beginning. The imagination catches fire and the heart glows with enthusiasm over the story of the labors for the public good which the pioneers shared, and the respect and admiration which they felt for the benefactors of their beloved town. They should be held up as examples to our youth, and their biographies used as manuals for training in noble character.
One longs for the power to make the old times and the old settlers live again, with their contented but simple and unadorned domestic lives, their home-made buckskin or linsey-woolsey garments, their limited and cautious business undertakings, con- trasting strangely with exciting perils in storms and floods and dangerous adventures with wild beasts and Indians-to tell a story with the genuine pioneer flavor which descendants of the forefathers would read with relish and profit.
"Early Dayton" is written from the personal and social stand- point, and it was not the intention to give a complete and consecutive account of the growth of the corporation and the business interests of the city. Biographies, with a few necessary exceptions, have not been inserted after the pioneer period. Had the lives of sons and grandchildren as well as of grandparents been written, the history would have filled more than one large volume.
In the spring and summer of 1895, at the request of Mr. H. H. Weakley, who has in many practical ways shown his interest in Dayton and its writers, I wrote a series of letters on the early his- tory of Dayton for the Herald. These letters, which were received with many words of commendation both to author and publisher,
V
vi
PREFACE
form the basis of the present volume, though large and important additions have been made. I was so fortunate as to obtain, through conversation and correspondence with descendants of pioneers, some facts and anecdotes never before published.
Free use has been made of the chapters in the "History of Dayton" written by my father shortly before his death, and his name appears with mine on the title-page.
When the manuscript of "Early Dayton" was almost finished, circumstances rendered it necessary for me to abandon all literary work. My friend Miss Harriet M. King, a born student and excel- lent writer, generously volunteered to write the concluding two chapters (Chapters X and XI) of the book, bringing it down to date. It requires literary skill to write a brief and condensed yet clear and interesting account of an extended period. Miss King has told the story of modern Dayton in a charming manner, and those who read her valuable contribution will perceive how greatly indebted I am to her. Words fail me when I attempt to express my obligation.
From Mr. E. L. Shuey I received, while my history was being written and published, assistance and encouragement of a very unusual kind, for which I am deeply grateful. I desire to make similar acknowledgments to Mr. W. A. Shuey, who not only relieved me of responsibility and labor, but secured the accuracy and added to the merit of the volume by his careful proof-reading and general supervision, his elaborate index and table of contents, and the excellent illustrations which he procured ; but, above all, by his interesting and useful "Chronological Record " and "His- torical and Statistical Tables" for ready reference, which cover the history and progress of this region from 1749 to 1896. If all pub- lishers were like mine, societies for the protection of authors would never have existed. I cannot let slip the opportunity to express my appreciation of the interest Mr. W. L. Blocher has shown in secur- ing the mechanical perfection of various literary productions of mine. I am under obligations to the United Brethren Publishing House for their courtesy in allowing me the unrestricted use of the "History of Dayton," of which they own the copyright.
MARY DAVIES STEELE.
DAYTON, OHIO, February 1, 1896.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
THE SETTLEMENT
PAGE
GIST'S Visit to the Miami Valley in 1751 - Valuable Timber- Well Watered- Wild Animals-Natural Meadows-A Most Delightful Country-Fertility and Beauty-Kentuckians Long to Dispossess the Indians-The Valley Called the Miami Slaughter-House-Dayton on the Site of the Indian Hunting-Ground-A Favorite Rendezvous for Indian Hunting and War Parties-General George Rogers Clark's Expedition to Ohio-Clark's Second Expedition -Skirmish on Site of Dayton-Logan's Campaign in 1786-Second Skirmish on Site of Dayton- Venice on Site of Dayton - Venice Abandoned-General Wayne's Campaign-Treaty of Peace-Site of Dayton Purchased from Symmes-Original Proprietors of Dayton-Survey of the Pur- chase-D. C. Cooper Cuts a Road-Dayton Laid Out and Named- Streets Named-Lottery Held on Site of Town-Lots and Inlots Donated to Settlers Drawn-Settlers Permitted to Purchase One Hundred and Sixty Acres at a French Crown per Acre-Names of Original Settlers of Dayton-Three Parties Leave Cincinnati in March, 1796-Hamer's Party Travels in a Two-Horse Wagon -New- com's Party Makes the Journey on Horseback -Thompson's Party Ascend the Miami in a Pirogue-Description of the Voyage-Poling Up Stream-Beauty of the Landscape-Supper in the Miami Woods - Names of the Passengers in the Pirogue-Ten Days from Cincinnati to Dayton-Mrs. Thompson the First to Land-Indians Encamped at Dayton-Land at Head of St. Clair Street-The Uninhabited Forest All that Welcomed Them -Encouraging Indications-Tempo- rary Protection -Log Cabins- Wholly Dependent on Each Other's Society - Monument Avenue Cleared-Town Covered with Hazelnut Thickets-Dr. Elliott's Purple Silk Coat- Dayton Hard to Find by the Traveler-Ague-Communal Corn-Field -Mary Van Cleve-Indians Attack the Thompson Cabin, - 17
CHAPTER II
EARLY SETTLERS
DANIEL C. COOPER-Newcom's Tavern-Cooper Park - Mr. Cooper Be- comes Titular Proprietor of the Town - His Improvements and Liber- ality -Indians Frequent Visitors-Playing Marbles at Midnight- Robert Edgar- First Store in Dayton -Henry Brown-First Flatboat
vii
viii
CONTENTS
-Furniture of the Nine Cabins Constituting Dayton-Food-Game - Hogs Introduced-Fish-Blockhouse for Defense Against Indians Built at Dayton -First School in Dayton-Benjamin Van Cleve's Autobiography - Early Life of Van Cleve-Battle of Monmouth - Wagon Journey of the Van Cleves Across the Mountains-Murder of John Van Cleve at Cincinnati by Indians-Benjamin Van Cleve Supports His Father's Family -Self-Educated-Employed in Quar- termaster's Department of Western Army-St. Clair's Defeat-Em- ployed in Flatboating by Army Contractors-In Charge of Army Horses and Cattle-Sent Express to Philadelphia by Quartermas- ter's Department-Sent by General Knox from Philadelphia to Conduct Pair of Horses to Indian Chief Brant-Quarrel with Gen- eral Knox-Meets Brant in New York-Studious Life After Return to Philadelphia-Sent West with Dispatches to General Wayne- Journey by Boat from Wheeling, Accompanied by Officers and Recruits-Cheated Out of His Pay-Flatboating to Kentucky - Sutler at Fort Greenville-Sent by Army Contractor to Fort Massac with Two Boats Loaded with Provisions-Adventure at Fort Massac with Major, Called "King," Doyle-Returning, Visits Red Banks, a Resort of Thieves and Cutthroats-Drives Cattle to Greenville, Fort Wayne, and Fort Washington-Accompanies Captain Dunlap to Make the Survey of the Dayton Settlement-Adventures as a Sur- veyor-Keeps Field-Notes During Rain on Blocks of Wood -Settles - 29 in Dayton-Surveying, Writing, and Farming-Trials, -
CHAPTER III
PIONEER LIFE
Two HOUSES on Main Street in 1799-Small Size of Cabins-Description by W. C. Howells of a Home of the Period-Newcom's Tavern, First House in Dayton, Chinked with Mortar-Corner Monument Avenue and Main Street the Business Center of Dayton-First White Child Born in Dayton -Biography of Colonel Newcom-Wearisome Journey Through the Woods to Dayton -Camping at Night-Newcom's Tavern Described -Relics-Old Clock and Brass Candlestick -First County Court Held at Tavern-Money Scarce-Convicted Persons Fined a Deerskin or a Bushel of Corn-Sentenced to Thirty-Nine Lashes on Bare Back-Sheriff Newcom's Primitive Prison a Corn-Crib and a Dry Well-Anecdotes of Visits of Troublesome Indians to the Tav- ern -Colonel Newcom Introduces Apples-First Wedding in Dayton -Benjamin Van Cleve's Characteristic Account of the Event-Mr. Van Cleve's Hospitality to Strangers-Usefulness to the New Town- W. C. Howells's Description of Social Life in Pioneer Times-Fire- Hunting on the Miami-Women Helped Their Husbands in the Fields-Dependent on the Husband's and Father's Gun for Meals- Pelts and Bear's Oil Articles of Merchandise-Skins Used for Clothes, Moccasins, Rugs, and Coverlets-Business Conducted by Barter- Ginseng, Peltries, Beeswax, etc., Used as Money -- Cut-Money or Sharp Shins-Charges Made in Pounds, Shillings, and Pence-Wild Animals-First Mill, a Corn-Cracker, Built by D. C. Cooper-Log Meeting-House Built-Dayton First Governed Wholly by County Commissioners and Township Assessors-D. C. Cooper Justice of the
ix
CONTENTS
Peace -Early Marriages-Petition Presented to Congress by Settlers -The Town Nearly Dies Out-D. C. Cooper, Titular Proprietor, Resus- citates It-Town Plats-Basis of Titles-Ohio a State -Montgomery Separated from Hamilton County -Population Increases-First Elec- tion -First County Court-Mr. Cooper Builds Saw- and Grist-Mills - Levees-New Graveyard-Log-Cabin Meeting-House Sold-New First Presbyterian Church-Mr. Cooper's Death -First Jail, - - 51
CHAPTER IV
1800-1805
JOHN W. VAN CLEVE-First White Male Child Born in Dayton -Friend- ship for R. W. Steele-Biographies of Van Cleve by R. W. Steele- Minutes Kept and Societies Founded by Van Cleve-His Exquisite Handwriting-His Versatility and Thoroughness-Proficiency in Ancient and Modern Languages-Teaches Latin at College Before Graduation -- Talent for Mathematics-Translations- Water-Color Pictures of Wild Flowers-A True Book-Lover -- Studies Law-Edits the Dayton Journal-In the Drug Business-Devotes Himself to Labors for the Public Good- A Civil Engineer-An Engraver-Tal- ent for Painting-Plays Several Musical Instruments-A Botanist and Geologist-To Him We Owe Woodland Cemetery-Love of Plants and Trees-Plants the Levees with Trees-Surrounds the Court-House with Elms-Fondness for Children -Delightful Picnics - His Great Size-Interest in Schools and Libraries-Founder and Supporter of Dayton Library Association-Free Lectures on Scien- tific, Historical, or Literary Subjects-Affection and Pride with Which He was Regarded -Devotion to His Kindred-Friendship Between Him and His Father-Public Offices in Town That He Held - His Map of Dayton- Writes Songs and Designs and Engraves Illus- trations for the Log Cabin-The Whig Glee Club Trained by Professor Turpin-Mr. Van Cleve and Others Accompany the Club to the Columbus Convention-His Death-His Unbending Integrity and Scrupulous Honesty-Council Passes Resolutions of Respect-Dr. T. E. Thomas's Funeral Oration-Isaac Spining-William King-The Osborns-John H. Williams-The First Postoffice in Dayton -Mail- Routes-Post-Rider to Urbana -Trials of Benjamin Van Cleve, First Postmaster-His Successor, George S. Houston-Joseph Peirce- Joseph H. Crane-Colonel Robert Patterson -Schools-Dayton In- corporated -- McCullum's Tavern-Social Library Society, - - 67
CHAPTER V
1805-1809
FIRST Disastrous Flood-Emigrants from New Jersey-Charles Russell Greene-Ferries-First Court-House-First Newspaper-First Brick Stores-James Stcele-Robert W. Stcele-Dayton Academy-James Hanna-John Folkerth-First Teachers in the Academy - William M. Smith-James H. Mitchell -E. E. Barney-Trustees of Academy in 1833-Collins Wight-Milo G. Williams-Transfer of Academy to
X
CONTENTS
Board of Education -Henry Bacon -Luther Bruen - Antislavery Excitement- Arrest and Suicide of a Fugitive Slave-Colored People Leave Dayton for Hayti-A Colonization Society Formed-Anti- slavery Society- Union Meeting-House, Principally Built by Luther Bruen-Dr. Birney and Mr. Rankin Mobbed-Dr. H. Jewett-Dr. John Steele-Advertisement of a Runaway Slave-Jonathan Harsh- man-First Brick Residence-The Cannon "Mad Anthony "-Rev. James Welsh, M.D .- Dr. John Elliott-Town Prospering-No Care Taken of Streets or Walks-Grimes's Tavern- Alexander Grimes -Reid's Inn-Colonel Reid-Second Newspaper, the Repertory- Advertisements in the Repertory- Matthew Patton -Abram Darst -Pioneer Women, -
- 86
CHAPTER VI
1809-1812
WILLIAM EAKER-George W. Smith-Roads-Journeys to the East- Goods Brought by Conestoga Wagons and Broadhorns to Ohio-Pack- Horses Moving Up Main Street-Groceries from New Orleans by Keel- Boats-A Voyage from New Orleans Described-Country Stores- Drinking Customs-Flatboating South -Excitement When the Fleets of Boats Left Dayton -Arrival of a Large Keel-Boat-Fourth of July from 1809 to 1840-The First Drug-Store-Indians and Wild Animals Both Troublesome-Rewards for Wolf-Scalps -New Side- walks and Ditches or Gutters- Ohio Centinel-Earthquakes- William Huffman-Ohio Militia Encamped at Dayton-Business Beginning of 1812-Horatio G. Phillips-J. D. Phillips-Obadiah B. Conover, - 101
CHAPTER VII
1812-1816
DR. JOHN STEELE-1812 and 1813 Years of Excitement-Dread of Indians - Colonel Johnston's Control of the Indians -Madison Orders Out Ohio Militia-Battalion Muster at Dayton -Militia Bivouac Without Tents at Cooper Park-Governor Meigs Arrives-Issues a Call to Citizens for Blankets-General Gano and General Cass Arrive- Three Regiments of Infantry Formed-Captain William Van Cleve- General Hull Arrives-Governor Meigs Surrenders Command to Gen- eral Hull-The Governor and General Review the Troops-The Three Regiments March Across Mad River to Camp Meigs-Leave Camp Meigs for Detroit-Munger's Brigade Ordered Here to Garrison the Town-Hull's Surrender- Consternation of the People- Handbills Issued at Dayton Calling for Volunteers-Captain Steele's Company - Kentucky Troops Arrive Here-Harrison Calls for Volunteers and Horses-Dayton Ladies Make One Thousand Eight Hundred Shirts for Soldiers-Expedition Against Indians Near Muncietown -Defeated Soldiers Bring Wounded to Dayton - Hospital on Court-House Corner - War-Jerome Holt- War Ended-Dayton Companies Welcomed Home- First Dayton Bank - Ohio Centinel-Stone Jail-Mr. For- rer's Reminiscences of Dayton in 1814-First Methodist Church -
of
xi
CONTENTS
William Hamer-Aaron Baker - Ohio Republican- Ohio Watchman - Medical Societies - Dr. Job Haines-Female Charitable and Bible Society - First Market-House-Moral Society -Associated Bachelors - First Theater, - - 115
CHAPTER VIII
1816-1835
NEW Brick Court-House of 1817-Ferries-First Bridges-Sabbath-School Association-Sunday-School Society-Game Abundant-Flights of Wild Pigeons-Migrations of Squirrels-Fish -Stage-Coaches-St. Thomas Episcopal Church-Christ Episcopal Church -Shows- Vol- unteer Fire Department, 1820 to 1863-Leading Citizens Active Mem- bers-Feuds Between Rival Engine Companies-Financial Depression, 1820 to 1822- Fever-Lancasterian School-Francis Glass-Gridiron Newspaper - Miami Republican and Dayton Advertiser -- George B. Holt -Consolidation of Watchman and Republican-Dayton Journal-Con- tribution to the Greek Cause-James Perrine, First Insurance Agent -First Baptist Church Built-Letter from Dayton in 1827-Canal Agitation-Dinner and Reception to De Witt Clinton -First Canal- Boat Arrives-Enthusiasm of the People-Extension of Canal by Cooper Estate-Law Providing for Election of Mayor-Town Divided into Wards-Temperance Society-New Market- House-Rivalry Between Dayton and Cabintown-Private Schools-Manual-Train- ing School -Seely's Basin-Peasley's Garden -Miniature Locomotive and Car Exhibited in Methodist Church-Daytonians Take Their First Railroad Ride-Seneca Indians Camp at Dayton-First Public Schools-School-Directors-Steele's Dam-General R. C. Schenck - Political Excitement-Council Cuts Down a Jackson Pole-Cholera in 1832 and 1833-Silk Manufactory -The Dayton Lyceum-Mechan- ics' Institute-Six Libraries in Dayton -Eighth of January Barbecue -Town Watchmen-Lafayette Commemorative Services, -
- - 135
CHAPTER IX
1836-1840
MEASURES Proposed for Improving the Town in 1836-Proceedings of Council-Public Meeting to Sustain Council-Cooper Park-Dayton Business Men in 1836-Educational Convention in 1836-Shinplasters -Thomas Morrison -Zoological Museum - William Jennison -First Railroad -Turnpikes-First Public-School Buildings-Opposition to Public Schools-Processions of School Children and Other Efforts to Excite an Interest in Public Schools-Samuel Forrer Takes Charge of Turnpikes-His Biography -Midnight Markets-Cooper Hy- draulic-Change of Channel of Mad River-First County Fair- Morus Multicaulis Excitement-Dayton Carpet Manufactory-Num- ber of Buildings Erected in 1839- Log Cabin Newspaper-Harrison Convention-Numbers in Attendance-Hospitality of Dayton Peo- ple-Banners Presented,
163
xii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER X
DAYTON FROM 1840 TO 1896
THE Beginning of "the Forties"-Distinguished Visitors-Schools- Oregon- West Dayton -Banks-Police Department-New Jail and Court-House-Cemeteries-Dayton Bar-General Robert C. Schenck -Clement L. Vallandighamn-Thomas Brown-Prominent Physi- cians-Public Library-Churches-Floods-Cholera-The Mexican War-First Telegraph Message-Gas and Electric Light-Railroads- Street-Railroads-Fire Department-Water-Works-Dayton Orphan Asylum -- Young Men's Christian Association - Woman's Christian Association -- Young Women's League-St. Elizabeth Hospital -Prot- estant Deaconess Hospital-Musical Societies- Literary Clubs-Im- provements-Manufacturing and Mercantile Interests-Natural Gas - Newspapers-Periodicals-David Stout-Ebenezer Thresher-Val- entine Winters-Frederick Gebhart-Robert W. Steele, - - - 183
CHAPTER XI
DAYTON IN THE CIVIL WAR
THE Opening of the War-Fall of Sumter-Recruiting-Dayton Light ,Guards-Light Artillery - Lafayette Guards -- Departure of Troops- - Anderson Guards-Dayton Riflemen-Zouave Rangers-Buckeye Guard-State Guard-Camp Corwin-Camp Dayton-Families of Soldiers Cared For- Advance of Kirby Smith- R. C. Schenck Elected to Congress-Union League Formed-Arrest of Vallandigham- Journal Office Burned -Morgan's Raid-Colonel King-Empire Office Mobbed -Procession of Wood-Wagons-Women's Work for the Sol- diers-The Home-Guard-Return of Companies A and E-Another Call for Troops-Last Draft of the War-Lee's Surrender- Assassin- ation of Lincoln -- Admiral Schenck - Rear-Admiral Greer-Pay- master McDaniel-National Military Home-Soldiers' Monument, - 202
COLONEL ISRAEL LUDLOW, - - 213
HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLES
LOCATION and Area-Population -City Government and Institutions- Mayor-Board of City Affairs-City Council-Board of Elections -Board of Equalization -Miscellaneous-Public Schools-Public Library - Police Department - Work - House - Fire Department - Water-Works-Board of Health-City Infirmary-Markets-Tax Commission-Taxes for 1894-96-Bonded Debt-Periodicals-Churches -Church and Private Schools-Benevolent and Charitable Institu- tions-Literary and Musical Societies-Political Clubs -Social, Cycling, Gymnastic, and Other Clubs-Military Companies-Street- Railways-Street Improvements -Commercial and Industrial -Post- office Statistics, 1895-Partial Enumeration of Mercantile, Manufac- turing, and Other Concerns - Chronological Record, 221
BIBLIOGRAPHY,
238
INDEX, - 241
ILLUSTRATIONS
PORTRAITS
D. C. COOPER,
Frontispiece
JOHN CLEVES SYMMES,
17
GENERAL GEORGE ROGERS CLARK,
- 18
GENERAL ANTHONY WAYNE,
18
GOVERNOR ARTHUR ST. CLAIR,
18
GENERAL JAMES WILKINSON,
18
GENERAL JONATHAN DAYTON,
19
BENJAMIN VAN CLEVE,
48
COLONEL GEORGE NEWCOM,
56
MRS. JANE NEWCOM WILSON,
58
NATHANIEL WILSON,
- 59
COLONEL ROBERT PATTERSON,
82
ROBERT W. STEELE,
86
GENERAL ROBERT C. SCHENCK, -
202
MISCELLANEOUS.
1796-1894.
THE LANDING OF THE FIRST SETTLERS, - 22
ORIGINAL PLAN OF DAYTON, 23
NEWCOM'S FIRST LOG CABIN, BUILT IN 1796,
- 24
NEWCOM'S TAVERN IN 1799,
57
PLAN OF DAYTON IN 1805,
62
PLAN OF DAYTON IN 1809, -
63
THE OLD ACADEMY, 1833-1857, -
- 87
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1839-1867,
96
MAIN STREET IN 1846,
- 97
FIRST AND LUDLOW STREETS IN 1846, - 104
COOPER FEMALE SEMINARY IN 1846, - - 105
EAST SIDE OF MAIN STREET, BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD, IN 1855,
114
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, 1857-1893, - - 118
FLOOD OF 1866, AS SEEN FROM THE HEAD OF MAIN STREET, 122
REMAINS OF THE OLD CORDUROY ROAD, THIRD STREET, CROSSING MAIN, OCTOBER 9, 1891, - - 123
NORTHWEST CORNER OF MAIN AND FOURTH STREETS IN 1882, 126
THIRD STREET RIVER BRIDGE, ERECTED IN 1839, - 127
THE OLD JEFFERSON STREET CANAL BRIDGE,
127
xiii
Opposite Page
xiv
ILLUSTRATIONS
Opposite Page COLUMBIAN CENTENNIAL, OCTOBER 22, 1892-A VIEW OF THE PROCES- SION ON MAIN STREET, - - 130 COLUMBIAN CENTENNIAL, OCTOBER 22, 1892-PUBLIC MEETING IN COOPER PARK, 131
NEWCOM'S TAVERN IN 1894, - 134
1896.
THE LANDING-PLACE AND NEWCOM'S TAVERN IN JANUARY, 1896, 135
COUNTY BUILDINGS, -
- - 138
GOVERNMENT BUILDING AND POSTOFFICE, 139
CITY BUILDINGS, - - 142
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND COOPER PARK, 143
STEELE HIGH SCHOOL, - - 146
CENTRAL DISTRICT SCHOOL, 147
MAIN STREET, LOOKING NORTH FROM BELOW FOURTH, 150
THIRD STREET, LOOKING EAST FROM MAIN, - 151
FIFTH STREET, LOOKING EAST FROM MAIN, 154
FIRST STREET, LOOKING WEST FROM MAIN, - 155
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING, - 158
WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING, 159 PROTESTANT DEACONESS HOSPITAL, - 162
ST. ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, - 163
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, - 166
THIRD STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 167
GRACE METHODIST CHURCH, - 170
SACRED HEART ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, - 171
SYNAGOGUE, - 174
ENTRANCE TO WOODLAND CEMETERY, - 175
SECOND STREET, LOOKING WEST FROM LUDLOW, - 186
A VIEW AT THE CORNER OF MONUMENT AVENUE AND LUDLOW STREETS, 187 BRIDGE STREET BRIDGE AND BELMONT AVENUE, DAYTON VIEW, - 190
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF MONUMENT AVENUE AND THE MIAMI RIVER, FROM THE TOWER OF THE STEELE HIGH SCHOOL, - 191
THE FIRST PASSENGER STATION IN DAYTON, - 194 UNION PASSENGER STATION, ERECTED IN 1856, TWO VIEWS, - 195
IDYLWILD, ON THE MIAMI RIVER, NORTH OF DAYTON, - 198
A VIEW OF STILLWATER, NEAR ITS CONFLUENCE WITH THE MIAMI, 199
THE FIRST DAYTON BANK BUILDING, ERECTED IN 1815, - 1
203
THE SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, AND APARTMENT HOUSE ON THE SITE OF NEWCOM'S TAVERN, 206
NATIONAL MILITARY HOME, 207
TAILPIECES.
Page
FIREPLACE AND SPINNING-WHEEL, -
- 28'
BLOCKHOUSE,
50
HEARTH,
66
MAPS.
MAP OF DAYTON IN 1839, 250
MAP OF DAYTON IN 1888-1892, 253
MAP OF DAYTON IN 1895, - 254
MAP OF OHIO, - 255
EARLY DAYTON
JOHN CLEVES SYMMES.
EARLY DAYTON
CHAPTER I
THE SETTLEMENT
GIST'S Visit to the Miami Valley in 1751-Valuable Timber-Well Watered - Wild Animals-Natural Meadows-A Most Delightful Country -Fertil- ity and Beauty-Kentuckians Long to Dispossess the Indians-The Valley Called the Miami Slaughter-House-Dayton on the Site of the Indian Hunting-Ground-A Favorite Rendezvous for Indian Hunting and War Parties-General George Rogers Clark's Expedition to Ohio-Clark's Second Expedition-Skirmish on Site of Dayton-Logan's Campaign in 1786-Second Skirmish on Site of Dayton - Venice on Site of Dayton - Venice Abandoned-General Wayne's Campaign-Treaty of Peace-Site of Dayton Purchased from Symmes-Original Proprietors of Dayton- Survey of the Purchase-D. C. Cooper Cuts a Road-Dayton Laid Out and Named-Streets Named-Lottery Held on Site of Town -Lots and Inlots Donated to Settlers Drawn-Settlers Permitted to Purchase One Hundred and Sixty Acres at a French Crown per Acre-Names of Original Settlers of Dayton-Three Parties Leave Cincinnati in March, 1796- Hamer's Party Travels in a Two-Horse Wagon-Newcom's Party Makes the Journey on Horseback -Thompson's Party Ascend the Miami in a Pirogue-Description of the Voyage-Poling Up Stream-Beauty of the Landscape-Supper in the Miami Woods-Names of the Passengers in the Pirogue-Ten Days from Cincinnati to Dayton- Mrs. Thompson the First to Land -Indians Encamped at Dayton -Land at Head of St. Clair Street-The Uninhabited Forest All that Welcomed Them-Encouraging Indications-Temporary Protection-Log Cabins-Wholly Dependent on Each Other's Society -Monument Avenue Cleared-Town Covered by Hazelnut Thickets-Dr. Elliott's Purple Silk Coat -Dayton Hard to Find by the Traveler-Ague-Communal Corn-Field -Mary Van Cleve- Indians Attack the Thompson Cabin.
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